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Saturday, 21 September 2013

UK MP
terms mass exodus of Pandits unprecedented human tragedy

JAMMU,
Sept 18: Terming the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Valley in 1989-90 an
unprecedented human tragedy, Marcus Jones MP of United Kingdom hassaid the response of the UK Government to
this tragedy was inadequate. Addressing a largely attended seminar organized by
Indo-European Kashmir Forum (IEKF) at London on
the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus recently, Mr Jones appreciated the
IEKF’s initiative of organizing the seminar to highlight the plight of the
displaced Pandits from Kashmir.

A handout issued
by IEKF said Mr Jonespresented a
forceful and passionate assertion that for the ethnic minority, to remain in
exile for over two decades, is shameful. It is the solemn responsibility of the
Indian Government and the international community to effectively and decisively
to effectively address to the short term and long term concerns of Kashmiri
Pandits. “I am indeed pained with your plight and the struggle that you have
endured for the last two decades. Your dignified and structured return will be
litmus test both for the local administration and all stakeholders’’, Mr Jones
said.

Among
the key note speakers in the seminar also included Andrew Griffiths another MP
of UK, Krishana Bhan, president IEKF, Vijay Sazawal International Coordinator
of IAKF, ICKF and IEKF, Moti Kaul president AIKS, Raj Pandit president of UK
Priest Association, Bharti Tailor, president of the Hindu Forum of Europe, Vivek
Kaul, member IEKF, Shantanu Bhagwat, former Diplomat of India Gopal Krishana
Rao, representative of Kanchi Kamoti in Chnnai, Surinder Sharma former
president of Overseas Friends of BJP in UK and Chandan Kotwal Executive Member
IEKF. Krishna Bhan highlighted the continued apathy towards the aborigines and
also highlighted the KPs heritage in the form of temples and shrines that stand
in ruins today. She further stated that the race stands at the verge of
extinction.

Vijay
Sazawal said that it is high time for the Untied Nation Security Council to
close the Kashmir file by announcing its intension to declare the ceasefire
line as the International boundary and ask India
and Pakistan
to settle adjustments along LoC.

Moti Kaul
lambasted both Centre and State Governments for responding to the issues
concerning displaced Pandits.